Safety mechanism for handling pyrophoric cartridges



Dec. 8, 1970 R, J, CH"`R|5TMA5 ET AL' 3,545,907

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR HANDLING PYROPHORIC CARTRIDGES Filed July lO, 19658 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 f4 Z4 18 22 ZO Z5 '8 ZO Dec. 8, V1970 R, CHRlSTMAS vET AL 3,545,907

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR HANDLING PYROPHORIC CARTRIDGES Filed July 1o. 1968 4 sneetsheet 2 Z9@ H n IO j Z9 I 1 i l 1 Dec. 8,1910 R, J, CHRISTMAS ET AL 3,545,907

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR HANDLING PYROPHORIC CARTRIDGES Filed July 10, 1968 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Zeta/21%' Dec. 8, 1970 R, J. CHRISTMAS ETVAL m 3,545,`907

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR HANDLING PYROPHORIC CARTRIDGES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed July l0, 1968 INVENTORS mwwm ma?. @www mmw United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 431-267 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A mechanism for use with a pyrophoric cartridge containing a substance therein which is spontaneously combustible in which the mechanism includes a mask which normally covers the outlet end of the cartridge when the cartridge is not mounted in an ignition mechanism such as a cigarette lighter and also incorporates structure to remove the mask when the cartridge is mounted in an ignition mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has been suggested that hypergolic fuels such as aluminum borohydride lbe used in conjunction with a volatile fuel to elfectuate the ignition of the volatile fuel. Hypergolic fuels have the known characteristic of igniting spontaneously upon being brought into contact with air.

By placing a hypergolic substance within a sealed cartridge and placing the cartridge within an ignition device such as a cigarette lighter, the fuel, such as butane, within the Cigarette lighter can be ignited by exposing the hypergolic substance to air adjacent a burner valve on a cigarette lighter through which the butane gas or other lighter fuel escapes to the atmosphere. When the hypergolic fuel ignites it causes the butane to ignite and burn thereby permitting the user to light a cigarette or otherwise use the exposed flame.

The hypergolic or pyrophoric substances can be dangerous to handle and there is a measure of risk to the public if the cartridges are handled carelessly. For example, an apparently empty cartridge may still contain minute quantities of the pyrophoric substance. Even such a minute quantity is suicient to cause a bad burn if the substance contacts the users skin. Generally an ash forms around the exit nozzle of the cartridge. When the ash is disturbed by a slight movement, it can ignite spontaneously in the air. There is also a grave danger of starting fires if a cartridge is discarded unprotected in any manner.

The cartridges containing the pyrophoric substance are provided with an outlet at a nozzle and a spring biased plunger closure mechanism. Upon striking the plunger, a seal is opened at the outlet nozzle of the cartridge and a small quantity of pyrophoric substance is ejected. Thus, there can be danger to the user if, when handling such a cartridge, the mechanism is inadvertently actuated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a cartridge which contains a pyrophoric substance which when it is not mounted in an ignition device, may be handled by the user without undue risk. To accomplish this a mechanism is provided for protecting the user against inadvertent actuation of the outlet mechanism on the cartridge, and

3,545,907 Patented Dec. 8, 1970 iceI mechanism effective to render the protective means inoperative when the cartridge is mounted in an ignition device such as a cigarette lighter.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the improved cartridge includes a wall which normally covers the outlet or nozzle of the pyrophoric cartridge and which, when the cartridge is mounted in an ignition device, is moved to uncover the outlet.

In an alternative form of the invention, the improved pyrophoric cartridge includes means effective when the cartridge is not mounted in an ignition device for locking the outlet of the pyrophoric cartridge so as to prevent actuation thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view partly in section of the mask in closed position;

FIG. 2 is the FIG. 1 mask in open position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the second embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a third embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the third embodiment in open position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective View of a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a side view partly in section of a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the fth embodiment as mounted;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a sixth embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a front view of the sixth embodiment;

FIG. l2 is a section taken in the direction of arrows 12-12 in FIG. ll;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the sixth embodiment in open position;

FIG. 14 is a top view of the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a side view of a seventh embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a front view of the seventh embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a cartridge 10 having at one end thereof an outlet nozzle 11 through which small amounts of the pyrophoric substance contained in the cartridge are ejected. The outlet nozzle 11 is connected by means of a spring-biased plunger which extends through the cartridge, (not shown) to a boss 12. The arrangement being such that striking the lboss 12 will cause the spring-biased plunger to move and thereby open the outlet nozzle and eject a quantity of the pyrophoric substance through the nozzle 11.

The cartridge 10 has arms 14 and 15 respectively fixed to opposite sides of the cartridge and extending outwardly at an angle of approximately 30 to 45; however, any desired angle can be used. Pivotally mounted to the arms are shutters 16 and 17 respectively mounted on pins 18 and 19 in the arms 14 and 1S. The shutters are cup-shaped hollow members each having a protuberance 20 and 21 fixed therein. The shutters are biased to closed position by springs (not shown) which can be rolled about the pivot pins 18 and 19 in a known manner. Loosely surrounding the cartridge is a sleeve 22. having narrow slotted portions therein through which the arms 14 and 15 extend. Fixed to the opposite ends of the sleeve are flanges 23 and 24 respectively.

With the sleeve 22. and shutters 16 and 17 in the position shown in FIG. 1, the outlet 11 of the cartridge 10 is covered and the user is thereby protected from contact with escaping pyrophoric substance if the boss `12 is accidentally struck. j

When the cartridge 10 is mounted in an ignition device, such as a cigarette lighter, indicated generally by numeral 25 n FIG. 2, the flange 23 engages the device to move the sleeve 22 forward relative to the cartridge 10 when the flange 24 engages the protuberances 20 and 21 on the shutters 16 and 17 respectively. The shutters are thereby forced to pivot against the spring bias around the pins 18 and 19 relative to the arms 14 and 15 into the open position shown in FIG. 2 whence the nozzle 11 is exposed and the ignition device, such as a lighter is ready for use. Actually, the nozzle 11 is placed near a. burner valve (not shown) on the ignition device through which fuel escapes. The burner valve and nozzle 11 are opened simultaneously such that the fuel emanating from the burner valve is ignited by the spontaneously combustable substance issuing from the nozzle 11.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cartridge is cradled and snugly held within a U-shaped leaf spring 26 which has shutters 16 and 17 mounted on the opposed ends thereof; however the shutters are not pivotally mounted about pins as in FIGS. 1 and 2. Fixed to the shutters are lugs 18 and 19 which project beyond the boundaries of the cartridge 10. When the cartridge 10 is not in use, its nozzle 11 is protected by the shutters 16 and 17 while the boss 12 is protected by the bight of the U-shaped spring 27 as shown in FIG. 3. In order to separate the shutters 16 and 17 when the cartridge 10 is mounted in an ignition device, the ignition device is provided with a well 27 into which the cartridge mechanism is inserted. Formed on the bottom of the well are slots 28 which engage the lugs 18 and 19 upon insertion of the cartridge mechanism into the well 27. Thus, the open ends of the slots 28 are spaced apart the same distance as the lug 118 from the lug 19. When the cartridge is slid rearwardly into the well, the slots flare outwardly and cam the lugs away from each other so as to open the shutters and expose the nozzle 11 as shown in FIG. 4, The striking member (not shown) which strikes the boss 12 can lit between the boss 12 and the bight of the spring 26.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the cartridge 10 is housed within an open ended sleeve 29 which is biased by a spring 30 acting between a liange 31 tixed to the cartridge and the flanged open end 32 of the sleeve 29 to the position shown in FIG. 5 when the closed end wall plate 29a of the sleeve 29 miasks the outlet 11 of the catridge 10. FIG. 5 depicts the position where the cartridge is not mounted in an ignition mechanism.

When the cartridge is mounted in an ignitlon device such as a cigarette lighter, the sleeve 29 is moved against the bias of the spring 30 so that its closed end plate 29a separates from the nozzle 11 and the nozzle registers with the opening 29b cutout of the sleeve 29. In order for the cartridge 10 to be moved rearwardly a lug (not shown) fixed to the cartridge can extend outwardly through a slot (not shown) in the sleeve 29. By inserting the cartridge 10 into an ignition mechanism, the lug can be forced rearwardly whereby the cartridge is moved against the bias of the spring 30. Mounted on a wall of the ignition device 25 is a burner valve 32 which ejects a fuel such as a liquified gas, of which butane is an example. When the boss 12 is actuated a small amount of pyrophoric sub stance is ejected from the nozzle 11 which ignites spontaneously and causes the fuel spewing forth from the burner valve 32 to ignite.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the cartridge 10 is enclosed in a housing 33 with its outlet end 11 enclosed between the rounded ends of the side walls 34. A tambour type shutter 35 running in grooves 39 in the side Walls normally extends over the nozzle 11, but when the housing 33 is inserted in an ignition device, a projection 36 on the shutter engages the device to move the shutter against the action of a spring I(not shown) which can be located in the grooves 39, to the position shown where the outlet 11 is exposed. When the housing 33 is removed from the ignition device, the shutter 35 is automatically returned by the spring to the position where the shutter forms a wall which covers the nozzle 11.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, the cartridge 10 has a cap 40 rotatably mounted over the nozzle 11. The cap is a hollow member of generally triangular configuration preferably of metal; however, it can be made of any material which is not ammable. The cap 40 has an opening 41 therein (FIG. 9), which is oifset from the nozzle 11 when the cartridge 10 is unmounted. The cap is rotatable about the axis 42 which has a washer 43 fixed at one end thereof which holds the cap on the cartridge. The cap can have a recess 40a therein for the reception of the Washer 43. A coiled spring 44 is wrapped around the axis 42 and has one end which bears on the inside of the cap 40 and another end which bears against a pin 451 fixed to the forward end of the cartridge 10. The cap 40 is thereby biased toward the closed position shown in FIG. 9 in which the nozzle 11 is covered by the forward cap wall.

When this particular embodiment is mounted in an ignition device, the cartridge 10 is moved laterally between two housing walls 46 as shown in FIG. 9 until a protuberance 47 engages the cap 40 to move it clockwise so that the aperture 41 registers with the outlet nozzle 11.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 10 to 14, the outlet nozzle 11 of the cartridge 10, when in the unmounted position, as shown in FIGS. l0 and l1, is substantially sealed off by a sleeve 48 which is slideable on the cartridge 10. The sleeve 48 is closed at its outer end except for a slot 49 in its side and end in which in the unmounted position an L-shaped member 50, secured on the cartridge, lits. The sleeve 48 is locked in the closed position by a U-shaped leafspring 51 carried in the member 50, the ends of the spring expanding to t an enlargement 53 of the slot as depicted in FIG. 12.

When the cartridge 10 is to be mounted in an ignition device, the lower end, having a cap 52 thereon is inserted into a well of the ignition mechanism (not shown) and the cartridge is pressed into the well by pressure on the device. The L-shaped member 50 is received in a groove (not shown) formed in the well (not shown) and the walls of the groove can have protuberances thereon for pressing together the ends of the spring 51, thereby freeing them from locking engagement with the enlargement 53 formed in the slot 49. The sleeve 48 is now unlocked, and when further movement of the cartridge 10 is prevented, such as when the lower end 54 of the L-shaped member 50 contacts a stop member, pressure on the sleeve 48 causes it to slide on the cartridge to the position shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, whereby the outlet 11 on the cartridge 10 is exposed for operation. When the cartridge is removed by pulling on the sleeve 48, the sleeve first slides on the cartridge to the FIG. 10 position. At this point the cartridge moves and as soon as the member 50 clears the groove in which it was inserted, the protuberances are withdrawn and the spring 51 locks the sleeve in the closed position and the nozzle 11 is completely covered by one llelg of the member 50 which forms a wall over the nozzle The embodiment of FIGS. 1S and 16 illustrates an alternative method of protecting the user against the ejection of pyrophoric substances caused by inadvertent actuation of the outlet opening means. The boss 12 which actuates the plunger connected to the outlet nozzle 11 is locked against movement whenever the cartridge 10 is not mounted in an ignition device. The boss 12 is formed with a circumferential groove 55, the side wall of which nearer the end of the boss 12 is inclined outwardly. The groove is engaged by a latch 56 pivotally mounted on a pin 57 and urged into the position of engagement by an arcuate spring 58 also mounted on the pin 57 and bearing at one end on a collar 59 secured on the end of the cartridge 10. The inclination of the side wall of the groove 55 causes the latch 56 to engage both sides of the groove and hold the boss 12 against axial movement in either direction.

As in the embodiment of FIGS. 15 and 16, the cartridge is moved laterally into an ignition device between two housing walls 60 when a protuberance in the form of a finger 61 passing through an aperture 62 in the collar 59 engages the free end 63 of the latch 56 to move it out of engagement with the groove 55, whereupon the boss 12 is free to move. When the cartridge 10 is removed, the latch 56 once more engages the groove 55 and the boss 13 is locked against inadvertent movement.

It should be understood that the foregoing disclosure relates only to the preferred embodiments of the invention and that numerous modifications or alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Mechanism forming a closure around the nozzle of a cartridge containing fuel therein comprising, a wall movable to a first position adjacent said nozzle and to a second position remote from said nozzle, and retaining means mounted on said cartridge for maintaining said wall in said first position and being operable to move said wall to said second position for uncovering the nozzle on said cartridge, and said retaining means including a lever having one end mounted on the cartridge and the other end fixed to the movable wall.

2. Mechanism forming a closure around the nozzle of a cartridge containing fuel therein comprising, a wall movable to a first position adjacent said nozzle and to a second position remote from said nozzle, and retaining means mounted on said cartridge for maintaining said Wall in said first position and being operable to move said wall to said second position for uncovering the nozzle on said cartridge, and said retaining means including a spring having one end bearing against a housing forming part of the Wall and the other end bearing on the cartridge.

3. A cartridge containing a pyrophoric substance and adapted to be inserted into the housing of an igniting device, said cartridge comprising a casing having a nozzle for discharge of the contained pyrophoric substance and an actuating member extending from the casing to cause said discharge upon displacement of said actuating member, shielding means movable between a first position in which it covers said nozzle to protect a handler of the cartridge from contact with said pyrophoric substance in the event of inadvertent displacement of said actuating member, and a second position in which said shielding means uncovers said nozzle to permit the free discharge of said pyrophoric substance therefrom, and means operative to normally dispose said shielding means in said first position and to move said shielding means to said second position in response to the insertion of said cartridge into the housing of an igniting device.

4. In combination with an igniting device having a housing and means to emit a combustible fuel, a cartridge containing a pyrophoric substance and being removably inserted in said housing of the igniting device, said cartridge comprising a casing having a nozzle for discharge of the contained pyrophoric substance and an actuating member extending from said casing and being displaceable to cause said discharge and thereby ignite said fuel emitted from said ignition device, shielding means movable 'between a rst position in which it covers said nozzle to protect a handler of the cartridge from contact with said pyrophoric substance in the event of inadvertent displacement of said actuating member, and a second position in which said shielding means uncovers said nozzle to permit the free discharge of said pyrophoric substance therefrom, means moving Said shielding means to said first position upon removal of said cartridge from the housing of said igniting device, and cooperative means on said cartridge and igniting device to move said shielding means to said second position in response to the insertion of said cartridge into said housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,085,411 4/ 1963 Daugherty 431-267 3,169,673 2/1965 Focht 222--402-12 EDWARD G. FAVORS, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 22g-402.@

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 354590] Dated December 87 1970 Ronald Christmas Douglas Fuller, Bruce Reid, Inventor(s) Leandre Guenin` Conrad Zellweger It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line l, after "25" change "n" to -in Colume 3, line 24, change "27" to 26 Signed and sealed this 6th day of April 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCIPIER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYIER, IR. Attestng Officerl Commissioner of Patents FORM PO1050[10-69) UscoMM-DC 6037 

